C.J. Stroud has only been in the NFL for two seasons, but he has quickly made an impact. The former Ohio State quarterback, who was a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist in college, was the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2023 and has led the Houston Texans to consecutive playoff appearances, something the team hadn't achieved since 2019.
Stroud's influence extends beyond Houston, as young quarterbacks across the country have taken notice of the former No. 2 overall pick. That includes a key Buckeye target.
Florida quarterback Neimann Lawrence camped at Ohio State last week. While talking to reporters after the visit, Lawrence mentioned the Buckeyes' recent quarterback history under head coach Ryan Day as a reason the Scarlet and Gray appeal to the 2028 signal caller.
"Just for the past five to six years they've had the best quarterbacks come out of here," Lawrence said. "Justin Fields, C.J. Stroud, Dwayne Haskins. So just the QB development and the quarterbacks they have helped reach to the next level is definitely standing out."
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Asked if he had a favorite quarterback in that group, Lawrence quickly responded that "C.J. Stroud is my favorite quarterback."
Lawrence values Stroud's story. Coming out of Inland Empire, California, Stroud was a late bloomer in his recruitment process. A strong camp circuit leading up to his senior year, including an impressive Elite 11 performance, helped put Stroud on the radar for many schools before he committed to Day and Ohio State in December 2019.
While Lawrence can't relate to that directly, as the quarterback is already considered a top prospect in the 2028 class with scholarship offers from more than a dozen Power 4 programs, he respects how Stroud worked to reach his current position.
"I just think that adversity comes at some point of your career," Lawrence said. "So just to see how he overcame adversity, I think it's something that's definitely inspiring."
Set to enter his sophomore year in the fall, Lawrence is actually preparing for his third season of high school football. He started last year for Ransom Everglades, completing 64.3 percent of his passes for 2,777 yards and 31 touchdowns, before transferring to Northwestern (Miami, Florida) ahead of this season.
Lawrence describes himself as a "young, confident quarterback" who can "make every throw on the field and that can also use his legs to kill you as well." Despite being young, Lawrence believes his experience is a key factor in his confidence.
"I think just being able to experience different things and be in different situations," he said. "That when you're in those situations, you're able to stick your fundamentals and be able to perform at your best."
Lawrence performed well at Ohio State's one-day camp. At 6-foot-1 and 202 pounds, Lawrence showcased his physical abilities and delivered accurate passes. After spending most of the day with Buckeye quarterbacks coach illy Fessler and offensive coordinator rian Hartline, Lawrence was asked by Day to work through throws to some receivers near the end of camp.
Even during the short time at camp, Lawrence could see why Scarlet and Gray quarterbacks have excelled.
"Today was great, just being able to work out with coach Fessler and then coach Hartline throughout the day," Lawrence said. "Just you can really see how they focus on development and really looking for the right thing and working with the guys they recruit.
"I can tell that there's reason for that success that those quarterbacks have had. Just being here for the past two hours with them, I know I had to come up here and get some work with these guys. They're just very hard on you, and I can tell that they'll get everything out of you."
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Lawrence still has a long way to go to reach the heights Stroud has, but he is on an impressive path. He has now walked the halls at Ohio State and practiced on the same fields as the former Buckeye star. After working with the Scarlet and Gray coaches, Lawrence remains focused on continued improvement.
"Just really the mechanical things and things that they were helping me with that I was kind of struggling with today," he said of areas of development after leaving Ohio State. "And then I'll take that home and adjust and be ready so that can help me in my long near future.
"My parents always pushed me to being perfect even though it's not really human like, but it's just always been like the best I can be."